Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we’ve compiled the latest information on material handler salaries across the United States for 2026:
-
Minnesota offers the highest average salary for material handlers at $38,144
-
Louisiana presents the lowest average salary at $26,605
-
The national average salary for material handlers stands at $33,215
-
The national hourly wage for material handlers is $15.97
For more insights, explore our methodology.
Background
In surveys across various demographics, salary remains the most critical factor for job seekers—particularly in the material handling sector. Understanding how much material handlers earn in your area is essential for career planning.
While specific earnings may vary within cities, state averages provide a useful benchmark for salary expectations. Currently, Minnesota tops the list as the state with the highest average salary for material handlers.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for material handler salaries in 2026:
Let’s take a closer look at the data and a complete ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Material Handlers By State
| Rank | State | Average Material Handler Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $38,144 | $30,000 | $47,000 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $37,294 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $36,638 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $36,368 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 5 | Vermont | $36,258 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 6 | Oregon | $36,225 | $28,000 | $45,000 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $36,004 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 8 | Colorado | $35,795 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $35,728 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $35,606 | $29,000 | $43,000 |
| 11 | Iowa | $35,428 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $35,428 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 13 | New York | $35,282 | $28,000 | $43,000 |
| 14 | California | $35,015 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $34,751 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 16 | Maine | $34,547 | $28,000 | $42,000 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $34,542 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 18 | Ohio | $34,394 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 19 | Kansas | $34,393 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 20 | Indiana | $34,383 | $27,000 | $43,000 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $34,304 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 22 | Illinois | $34,101 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 23 | Maryland | $34,021 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 24 | Michigan | $33,966 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 25 | Alaska | $33,950 | $28,000 | $41,000 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $33,590 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 27 | Delaware | $33,419 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 28 | Nevada | $33,384 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $33,176 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 30 | Missouri | $33,108 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 31 | Utah | $33,083 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $32,988 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $32,146 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $32,072 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 35 | Montana | $31,683 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $31,626 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 37 | Arizona | $31,571 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 38 | Idaho | $31,493 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 39 | Virginia | $31,001 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $30,116 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 41 | Georgia | $29,962 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 42 | Texas | $29,950 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $29,651 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $29,554 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $29,402 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $28,497 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $28,268 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 48 | Florida | $27,780 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 49 | Alabama | $27,321 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $26,605 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
Methodology: Material Handler Salary By State
To accurately assess material handler wages by state, Zippia has gathered data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, and supplemented it with actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team then computes a weighted average to establish the average pay for material handlers in each state.
The average annual salary data was aggregated and states ranked based on their average salaries for material handlers.
Material Handler Salary By State FAQs
-
What is the highest-paid state for material handlers?
The highest-paid state for material handlers is Minnesota, with an average salary of $38,144 per year.
-
What city pays material handlers the most?
Minneapolis, MN offers the highest pay for material handlers, averaging $38,154 annually.
-
What is the lowest-paying state for material handlers?
The lowest-paying state for material handlers is Louisiana, with an average salary of $26,605 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
